Binge eating recovery and losing weight, advice needed:)

tashaa1992

I didn't really know where to post this so I figured as it was to do with losing weight too, here was the best option. My friend rang me this morning crying, she's just started in recovery for binge eating and her dietician has her on 2,000 calories. She wants to lose weight, but she really doesn't need to. She's 4ft 10.5" and 99lbs, that's really small right? She doesn't believe it though and I have tried to talk it through with her but I know all I can do is let her know I love her and she is beautiful just the way she is.

She does have a history with making herself throw up and was diagnosed bulimic four years ago but as far as I know, she hasn't thrown up in over a year. We talk alot about her disorder because I feel like I can relate, I have anorexia, I'm in recovery for it, I have a history with purging too and I think about food 24/7. She tells me when she has binged and I try and support her as best I can but obviously I don't know why it happens, like what triggers it. She binges almost everyday but still eats her normal meals, as far as I know. Her normal meals are quite healthy, fruits, vegetables, lean meats and wholegrains.

I just wanted advice in how to help her cope with her recovery. To put her mind at ease is it possible to lose weight eating 2,000? I am in no way supporting her weight loss goals though, I just want to reassure her and counselling in the past hasn't helped her, she's so fixated on losing weight. Any advice would be great, thank you for taking the time to read this xxx

shierrarobin

Usually 2000 a day is the average that a person can have without gaining or losing weight. At least, that's how I understand it. When I eat 2000 calories (well 1840 now since my goal has changed) this site tells me that I won't lose any weight, but it doesn't say I'll gain any either. I think her eating 2000 calories a day should keep her at the weight she is. I could be wrong about that, but that seems to be the case.

littlepinkhearts

I came from very low cal also. Before I came to MFP somedays I wouldn't eat anything. It was not hard for me to do that either as I had learned to ignore my body trying to tell me I was hungry. But since coming here, I have upped my cals and am now maintaining at 2000 and have been for almost 3 weeks now. I will tell you that it was definately more a mind struggle for me then actually physically putting the food down my throat, which was hard too. But since coming on MFP I have learned so much from reading that I have just put my feelings aside and just decided to do what's best for my body for a change, not my mind. So my mind has gone through hell, but my body has been absolutely LOVING the food. I can still feel changes in it. I feel stronger and healthier. People tell me that my skin looks better and that I look like i'm losing weight (even though i'm not haha), probably because i've been weight lifting and losing inches steadily. I really don't know what would help her to make her feel more confident that feeding her body is the correct way to go. I learned that from reading everything I could find to read on MFP. It took my mind a long while to catch up with the good things that were happening to my body. And I still stuggle to this day...but I know deep down that it's the right thing to get my body healthy and learn to lose weight the correct and healthy way. Just like you said, keep helping her and supporting her in whatever way you can. Hopefully she'll figure it out for herself soon ):flowerforyou:

Huiminlovesfood

I came from very low cal also. Before I came to MFP somedays I wouldn't eat anything. It was not hard for me to do that either as I had learned to ignore my body trying to tell me I was hungry. But since coming here, I have upped my cals and am now maintaining at 2000 and have been for almost 3 weeks now. I will tell you that it was definately more a mind struggle for me then actually physically putting the food down my throat, which was hard too. But since coming on MFP I have learned so much from reading that I have just put my feelings aside and just decided to do what's best for my body for a change, not my mind. So my mind has gone through hell, but my body has been absolutely LOVING the food. I can still feel changes in it. I feel stronger and healthier. People tell me that my skin looks better and that I look like i'm losing weight (even though i'm not haha), probably because i've been weight lifting and losing inches steadily. I really don't know what would help her to make her feel more confident that feeding her body is the correct way to go. I learned that from reading everything I could find to read on MFP. It took my mind a long while to catch up with the good things that were happening to my body. And I still stuggle to this day...but I know deep down that it's the right thing to get my body healthy and learn to lose weight the correct and healthy way. Just like you said, keep helping her and supporting her in whatever way you can. Hopefully she'll figure it out for herself soon ):flowerforyou:

I am trying to recover from my eating disorders too. I used to eat and spit food out a few times per day, but after joining MFP yesterday, it has reduce to only one time for yesterday.I have more confidence that it would be a zero starting from tomorrow. I have to give credit to so many of the awesome users of MFP out there. You guys are just too encouraging. I currently weigh 49kg , 153 cm and is 19 years if age. I exercise twice a week consisting of 45 mins of swimming per session. I am currently working retail ( lightly active) with more standing than walking. I had dieted several times Previously which my have really slowed my metabolism. Do you have any idea how many calories I require daily? The idea of 2000 seems to much!

littlepinkhearts

I came from very low cal also. Before I came to MFP somedays I wouldn't eat anything. It was not hard for me to do that either as I had learned to ignore my body trying to tell me I was hungry. But since coming here, I have upped my cals and am now maintaining at 2000 and have been for almost 3 weeks now. I will tell you that it was definately more a mind struggle for me then actually physically putting the food down my throat, which was hard too. But since coming on MFP I have learned so much from reading that I have just put my feelings aside and just decided to do what's best for my body for a change, not my mind. So my mind has gone through hell, but my body has been absolutely LOVING the food. I can still feel changes in it. I feel stronger and healthier. People tell me that my skin looks better and that I look like i'm losing weight (even though i'm not haha), probably because i've been weight lifting and losing inches steadily. I really don't know what would help her to make her feel more confident that feeding her body is the correct way to go. I learned that from reading everything I could find to read on MFP. It took my mind a long while to catch up with the good things that were happening to my body. And I still stuggle to this day...but I know deep down that it's the right thing to get my body healthy and learn to lose weight the correct and healthy way. Just like you said, keep helping her and supporting her in whatever way you can. Hopefully she'll figure it out for herself soon ):flowerforyou:

I am trying to recover from my eating disorders too. I used to eat and spit food out a few times per day, but after joining MFP yesterday, it has reduce to only one time for yesterday.I have more confidence that it would be a zero starting from tomorrow. I have to give credit to so many of the awesome users of MFP out there. You guys are just too encouraging. I currently weigh 49kg , 153 cm and is 19 years if age. I exercise twice a week consisting of 45 mins of swimming per session. I am currently working retail ( lightly active) with more standing than walking. I had dieted several times Previously which my have really slowed my metabolism. Do you have any idea how many calories I require daily? The idea of 2000 seems to much!

check out this group http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/3834-eat-more-to-weigh-less and read the topic on TDEE and why you should not eat below your BMR. It will also help you figure out what you should be eating in accordance with your activity level etc...

CharliesAngel1

^^What she said. I just upped my calories from 1200 to about 1900, and I'm losing weight steadily! Love it!